After leaving the Illinois we went down the Mississippi to Alton, Illinois. The Marina there is partly under the Clark Bridge that crosses the Mississippi. We turned upstream to enter the marina.
Our friend, Elaine Bosley from Kansas City, Missouri, joined us in Alton for the week end. A wonderful time visiting and catching up. Elaine and Bonnie went shopping in St. Louis and we spent one afternoon cruising on the Mississippi. Great Fun.
Elaine departed, Bonnie returned to Virginia Beach to work and Charlie's brother, John, on his way to Florida and Mississippi, came in to visit from Los Angeles. John and Charlie went to the Arch in St. Louis, visited other loopers on the docks, enjoyed the "hot-tub" and swimming pool, restocked SONATA with groceries and just enjoyed being together. Another great visit!
Just South of the Alton marina was our first Mississippi river lock, the Mel Price lock. Two chambers, a big one, 1200' x 110', and an auxillary chamber only 600' x 110'. We were placed in the 600' lock. John and Charlie visited this lock during John's stay and picked up information that will be presented later in the blog.
When you exit the Mel Price lock you can either go right down the Mississippi (rocky channel with small waterfalls) or go left through the Chain of Rocks Channel made, created by the Corps of Engineers, as the shipping channel. When we exit we came to a face off with an upbound tow and his barges. Some useful information. A barge can carry 1500 tons, 52,500 bushels, or 453,600 gallons. One barge is equal to fifteen (15) jumbo railroad hopper cars, or fifty-eight (58) semi-trucks. When we pass a 15 barge or a 20 or 30 barge tow, we are passing alot of stuff!!!
Approaching the Chain of Rocks Lock which is just above St. Louis and at the end of the Chain of Rocks Channel we are surrounded by white pelicans.
Inside the Chain of Rocks Lock looking aft we observe the wall being raised. This lock does not have a rear gate, but rather a wall that is raised and lowered to allow vessels to enter and exit. Again, we are in the auxillary lock, 600' x 110'. GREAT ESCAPE has joined us again. We will travel together down the Mississippi, up the Ohio, and on the Tennessee until they, Don and Theresa, head south on the Tombigbee.
Saint Louis Arch from the river, SONATA on the way South.
Another view of the arch, a little further down river, showing the tour boats that are along the waterfront. Strange, in St. Louis there are NO facilities for visitors to tie up, no marina, only hundreds of barges and these few tour boats.
Almost 50 miles south of St. Louis is the first, only, marina for miles and miles. Hoppies Marina consists of a half-dozen or so barges tied to the river bank. The location is well known by all loopers and a "required" stop.
The covered shed on the barge is the Hoppies Marina Executive Conference Center where each day Fern, "Mrs. Hoppie", holds her Mississippi and lower rivers educational seminar. Attendance is mandatory!
Fern during her informational presentation. She advises where to stop on the River, how to navigate through the eddies and currents, her experience with the Coast Guard and Homeland Security . . . wanting her to make her marina secure against terrorist!? She and her husband have been on the river more than 50 years, it is said that Hoppie (Fern's husband) is the last of the the river's lamplighters.
Hoppies from the shore with SONATA and the river in view. This is our scene after we returned from lunch at the Blue Owl in Kimmswick, Missouri.
The Boys of Summer resting on the Husband's Bench, Charlie and Don Miller (Great Escape). Where are the girls, Bonnie and Theresa . . . shopping of course!
On the river again, strong current, a picture of the Garmin GPS screen showing our location, speed (13.1), time (0914), and depth of water (22.3'); we are racing down the river with the current providing a big push.
Down nearly another 50 miles we arrive at the Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam which is just off the Mississippi and the entry way to the port of New Athens, Illinois. We were allowed to tie off to the lock wall for the evening. There are no services here . . . but at least you are safe and off the river for the night.
Another 50 or so miles and we are at the Little River Diversion Channel which is a small channel off the Mississippi. We anchored for the night then are ready to proceed to the Ohio River.
In conversing with the tow (tug) captains found out that tow boats run from some 6,000 to 10,000 horsepower. This one is one of the 10,000 horsepower boats and they move the 20-30 size barge collections from New Orleans to St. Louis. This one has 29 barges. In St. Louis the barges are separated and moved on up the Mississippi or the Illinois by smaller tows, 6-7,000 horsepower.
The end of our Mississippi River journey. Here we made a left turn into the Ohio River. The water changed from swirling muddy brown water to relatively calm blue/green water. On our way up the Ohio...............
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